Abdullah al-Khalidi was seized as he was about to get into his car and was driven away in another vehicle, the reports said quoting police who have launched an investigation and are actively searching for the diplomat.

This is the second attack against Khalidi in recent months.

Aden borders Yemen's lawless southern Abyan province, where al-Qaeda linked militants have exploited the weakening central government in Sanaa to strengthen their presence in the country, launching deadly attacks against security forces especially across the restive south and south-east.

Several countries including the United States consider the Yemen-based Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) as the most active and dreaded unit of the global terror outfit.